How the Bladder Works
The urinary bladder stores urine which is continuously excreted by the kidneys. When the bladder is full the sphincter muscles along the length of the urethra (the tube leading from the bladder) relax and the bladder contracts and empties. Once the bladder is empty, the bladder muscle relaxes and the urethral sphincter closes again.
Causes of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence affects up to 15% of women and increases with age. Incontinence occurs when the sphincter muscle does not close properly or the bladder contracts when it should not.
Inadequate closure of the sphincter may follow damage to the muscles and nerves of the pelvic floor after vaginal delivery. This may be aggravated by the menopause, a chronic cough or heavy physical activity. The patient usually complains of urine loss on coughing or exertion which is called stress incontinence.
Overactive bladder occurs when the bladder muscle contracts when it should be storing urine, leading to urgency and urge incontinence. This may be due to injury to the bladder’s nerve supply or to a psychosomatic cause associated with anxiety. Occasionally both incompetence of the sphincter and bladder over-activity co-exist.
Incontinence is not a fatal condition but it can significantly interfere with professional, social, and personal activities with deterioration in the quality of life and sometimes social isolation. It is, therefore, important and worthwhile to have treatment.
Curing Incontinence
There are many different kinds of treatment depending on the cause. Firstly it is important to make sure that there isn’t a urine infection (cystitis) as this can sometimes cause temporary incontinence and is easily treated.
If the main complaint is stress incontinence, pelvic floor exercises may be helpful. These have to be practised daily and a cure rate of up to 70% may be expected.
If these fail or are inappropriate, surgery is the next step. Conventional major surgery may achieve a success rate of 85% to 90% but there is usually a 4-6 day stay in hospital and some discomfort from the abdominal wound with an eventual return to work after 4 to 6 weeks.
An alternative approach is to inject bulking agents around the bladder neck (where the urethra leaves the bladder) to prevent it opening too easily. This procedure may achieve up to 70% success but re-injection may be required.
TVT (Tension-Free Vaginal Tape)
A technique has been devised which overcomes the modest success rate of pelvic floor exercises and avoids the pain and long hospital stay of more major operations.
This procedure achieves between 85% to 90% success and has little post-operative pain so the patient leaves the hospital either on the same day or on the following day.
It works by supporting the middle of the urethra.
Gynecare TVT is an exciting new concept. The mesh consists of a permanent Prolene material surrounded by a plastic sheath with a strong needle at either end. A small cut is made in the vagina and the mesh is passed under the middle of the urethra to support it. Both needles emerge through the anterior abdominal wall so that the mesh is accurately positioned.
Procedure Details
A fine telescope (cystoscope) is introduced into the bladder to be absolutely sure there is no bladder injury, and then the position is adjusted and needles are removed.
The vaginal and abdominal wounds are then closed and the patient returns to the ward. The operation takes up to 30 minutes. Some pain relief may be necessary and the patient usually passes urine within a few hours and can return home either the same day or the following day.
Success Rates and Complications
Published medical papers show that between 86% and 90% of patients are cured at a three year follow-up. (Ulmsten et al 1999; Olsson 1999).
Complications can include bleeding or bladder injury when the needles are passed, difficulty emptying the bladder, urgency and urinary infection. So far there have been no significant long-term side effects.
Questions & Answers
Q. Am I a candidate for TVT?
If you complain of stress incontinence and urodynamic studies have shown that urethral sphincter incompetence is present, then this operation is likely to be suitable. It is appropriate for many types of patients, including those who have had previous surgery for incontinence and are overweight. As with any surgery of this kind, the procedure should not be performed during pregnancy and the patient should be counselled that future pregnancies may negate the effects of the surgical procedure and she may again become incontinent.
Q. Will I have pain after the procedure?
Some mild pain may occur over twenty four to forty eight hours after surgery. This could be controlled by simple pain relief such as aspirin.
Q. Will I have difficulty emptying my bladder?
A few patients have temporary difficulty and may require an in-out catheter in the ward.
Q. What is the risk of urinary infection?
This may occur in up to 6% of patients and is treated by antibiotics and an adequate fluid intake.
Q. When can I play sports?
Usually after 4 to 8 weeks to allow the wounds to heal and the mesh to settle into place.
Q. When can I have intercourse?
After 4 to 6 weeks.
Q. Can I return to my usual routine?
Yes after about 1 -2 weeks, but it is wise to avoid unnecessary heavy lifting for 6 weeks.
Q. When can I drive?
Usually within 1 week of surgery.
Q. Does the mesh remain there forever?
Yes: evidence from long term follow-ups show that it is inert and remains there to support the urethra.
Q. Are there any side effects from this?
Occasionally a portion of the mesh may be exposed but this is uncommon. It is treated by antibiotics, and closure of the wound.
Q. What happens if the mesh falls and I become incontinent again?
You would need to be investigated with fresh urodynamic tests and treatment decided on the basis of these. Occasionally a new Gynecare TT has to be inserted.
References
- Ulmsten U, Johnson P & Rezapour M. 1999. A 3 year follow up of tension free vaginal tape for surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. Brit. J. Obstet Gynaecol; 106:345-350.
- Olsson, Kroon 1999. A 3 year postoperative evaluation of tension free vaginal tape. Gynecol. Ostet. Invest;48:267-269.
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